Urine warden proposed for Ennis

AN Ennis urine warden could soon be patrolling the streets if a suggestion made by Councillor Paul O’Shea is acted on.
At this week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council it was also suggested that a website be set up to shame people who are found urinating or defecating publicly.
Councillor O’Shea said that a position of urine warden could be introduced for six months, on a pilot basis. Introducing his proposal, Councillor O’Shea insisted that he wasn’t joking. “I’m very serious about it, I’m not making light of it,” he claimed.
Councillor Brian Meaney said that shaming people online on a specially created website might help the cause. “If people are urinating or defecating publicly they could be put up there,” he said.
Mayor of Ennis, Frankie Neylon said that the town had received some poor publicity on the issue of public urination recently. He suggested that if a staggered approach was taken to closing late night venues, it might go some way in dealing with the problem.
Councillor Johnny Flynn said that in part of Victoria in Australia, temporary toilets are put on streets late at night. He said this has been relatively effective.
It also emerged this week that John O’Connor, proprietor of Custy’s Traditional Music Shop in Ennis, has removed the electric device he installed at his premises to deliver an electric shock to people urinating.
He said that the problem seems to have resolved itself. “There was massive publicity; it was all over the place and the problem seems to have corrected itself now.”
He said that one person had been captured on CCTV and it was passed on to the gardaí. Mr O’Connor said he knew the individual’s face but didn’t have the name.
Mr O’Connor also said he had received a very positive response from the public, with many people emailing him and calling to the shop to congratulate him on his stance.
He said he wouldn’t rule out setting up the device again, if the problem re-emerges.
“If it happens again I’ll look at it but the last thing I want to be known as is a vigilante. I had to stand up for my business and now I’ve done it.”